Combined casket and vault display rack



July 16, v L. M LOHBERG COMBINED GASKET AND VAULT DISPLAY RACK Filed Dec. 5, 1927 Patented July 16., 1929.

LOUIS M. LoHBERe, or nEs iuoiiviiarown.V

`COMBINED GASKET AND VAULT DISPLAY RACK.

Application led December 5, 1927. Serial No. 237,782.

The object of my invention is tofprovide a combined casket and vault display rack.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a display rack of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, which rack maybe used in the display rooms of undertaking establishments, casket manufacturers and the like for conveniently displaying caskets and vaults therefor, insuch relation as 0 to effectively show both articles of merchandise.

It is my objectto provide such a display rack, which may be used for supporting the base of the vault with the casket resting r thereon and to hold and display the top part of the vault in tilted position above the casket.

With'these and other objects in View, my

invention `consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts ofmy combined casket and vault display rack, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointedout in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display rack embodying myinvention and having a casket and vault installed thereon in position for display; i j

Figure 2 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 2-'-2 of Figure 1.

F igure is a detail, sectionalview taken on .the line 3 3 of Figure 2; and' Figure4 is a perspective view of one of the supports for the front part of the vault cover.

In recent years, there has been a great increase in the number of burial vaults used. Consequently there has grown up a large and increasing business in the manufacture and sale of metal burial vaults.

Casket manufacturers and undertakers have found it diicult to display these vaults Hin a satisfactory way. j

I have in the present invention provided a combination display rack, whereby the vault lcan be displayed in such manner as to facilitate the explanation of. its structure, and the manner in which its base and top are connected together'. f

My rack also facilitates the display of the vault in` connection with the casket 1n such manner that the entire display takes practieach end are the two upright laterally spaced legs 1 2, preferably of angle iron connected at their top by a transverse member 14, which may be integrally or otherwise rigidly connected with the legs 12 as may be desired.

The transverse member 14 is hinged as at 16 to the respective' longitudinal frame members 10, so that the legs 12 may be folded from their upright position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to their position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

Forrigidly bracing the legs 12 in their upright position, a bracelS-is pivoted to each leg 12 as atn20 and is inclined upwardly and toward one of the frame lmembers 10 and detachably but rigidly secured thereto byl a removable bolt or the like 22. j

The members 10 are also connected at their ends by transverse rigid frame members 24.

The members 14 preferably fit into the members 24 when the 'legs 12 are in upright position.

The members 24 atjthe front part of the rack projecting forwardly beyond the members 10, as shown at 24a in Figures 1 and 2.

Lugs or the like 26 project upwardly from the forward parts of the .transverse members 24, as shown in Figure 2, and similar lugs 28 may be provided near the rear ends of the members 24.

The parts just described `form a rigid supporting frame on which the base of a burial vault may be conveniently supported. I have shown in the accompanying drawings such a base indicated at A. This base A is made of sheet metal and has at its periphery a downwardly projecting flange 30 terminatingin a laterally projectingiiange 1 32, so `that when the base is set on a iiat surface, its larger part is supported abovesuch surface by the flanges 30 and 32.

The base A is placed on the frame above described, and the lugs 26 andr 28 project into the recess formed below the main part of the base A and coact with the flanges 3() for preventing the base from being accidentally slid off the display rack.

It will be noted that the lugs 26 and 28 are located far enough forward on the rack, so that when the vault base A is placed ou the rack, it will be located a little forwardly of the fore-and-aft center of the rack, and its rear flange will not overhang the rear of the rack. A casket 84 mav be conveniently supported and displayed eithei` on the rack as already described or upon the base A, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. v

For conveniently displaying thecover or top B of the burial vault in tilted position above the casket, I provide the following means: i

Detachably bolted to the rear legs 12 by means of removable bolts 3G are upright angle Abars 38, `which project upwardly far enough to support the top or cover member B above the casket 34.

At its upper end, the support 38 has a portion 3S inclinedrearwardly slightly.

Viclded or otherwise secured to the portion 38a is a supporting` bracket 40 having an arm 40n adapted to project into the cover B.

In arranging the cover B for display, it is raised by a derri'cl or other means to position where its rear edge is seated against the portions 38a of the uprights 38 and on the brackets 40.

For supporting t-he front portion ofthe cover B, I provide removable upright posts 42, each provided at its lower end with `a U-clamp 44 in one arm of which is a set Vscrew 46. This clamp may be secured to the flange 32 of the vault base A.

The upright support 42 is inclined rearwardly somewhat and has at its upper end a member 48, having the arms 48n and 50 cX- tending at right angles from each other and adapted to rest underneath the lower edge vof the vault top B at the corner thereof.

The respective arms 48CL and 50 have at their inner edges the hook members 52 adapted to engage around an inwardly projecting flange 54, which is foundl in many vaulttops. It will be noted that the uprights 38 are located close enough together, so that they may beused with vaults of many different lengths. Y

The uprights 42 which cooperate with the corners of the vault tops have the clamp members, whereby they can be secured to the base of the particular vault with which they are used'.

rIhus my improved displayv rack can be used for displaying vaults of a considerable variety of sizes, in fact all of the ordinary full sizes, together with any casket, which will rest upon the base A.

The legs 12 are preferably provided with castors 56 to facilitate the movement of the rack from place to place with its load. The rack thus forms in a sense a combination display truck by means of which a vault may not only be conveniently displayed, but when mounted for display may be easily moved from place to place on the display room floor.

The entire'di'splayv rack or truck may be folded into4 a relatively small space for storage or transportation.

vFor storagefandsh-ipment purposes, the uprights 88 and 42 are removed, the bolts 22 are taken out 0f the member 10, the legs 12 are folded'up, so that there is rovideda relatively small and compact pac age.

Changes may be made in the details of the construction and arrangementof the various parts of my device, audit is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified` forms of structure andthe use of different materials or mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonablyincluded within the scope of my claims. L

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame having spacedlongitudinal members and Ispaced transversev members, provided with stop devices lforholdinga vaultbase forwardly of thelongitudinal center ofthe frame, supporting; legs at the corners of said frame, supports projecting upwardlyfrom wthe rear corners ofthe frame for holding the rear part of a vault top, and n supports adapted tok be adjustably secured to a vault base resting on the frame and projectinghigher than said first supports, said supports having means for engaging `the under and rear surfaces of the vault top walls.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame ,having spaced longitudinal members and spaced transverse members provided with stop devices for holding a vault base forwardly of the longitudinal center of 1' .1 thefframe, supportinglegs at the corners of said frame hinged to the transverse members and detachably braced to the longitudinal members, supports projecting upwardly from the rear corners of the frame for holding the f1 `rear part of a vault top, and supports adapted to be adjustably secured `*to a vault baseI resting on the frame and projecting higher than said iirst supports, said supports having means for engaging the under and rear surfaces of the vault top walls.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame adapted to support a vault base for display thereon, an upwardly projecting memvber at the rear part of the frame for supportingthe rear part of a vault top and upwardly extendingr members for supporting the ,front part of the vault top adapted to be detachably and adjustably mounted for permitting their adjustment forwardly rearwardly in ff thedevice. i .j j j I 4. ,For use with a vault structure comprising a base and a removable top, a device of the kind described, comprising a frame, adapted to support` thereon for display, said base, and means for supporting said top comi prising supporting posts at the rear of said frame, said top being supported thereon in tilted and nearly balanced position and comparatively small supporting rods extending from the front of said frame to the front edge of said top for retaining said top in such nearly balanced position With its iont and rearlower edges spaced above and in substantially vertical alignment With the front and rear edges respectively of said base.

Des Moines, Iowa, November 8, 1927.

LOUIS M. LOHBERG. 

